A DAY WITH TOM CANNON. 265 



wind came. Here are the two first fences over 

 which the tiro is conducted. A very low gorsed 

 hurdle, with the trunk of a very small tree 

 placed before it on the ground, so as to accustom 

 the inexperienced jumper to the rail before his 

 fences, which he will meet at later periods of his 

 career ; and a little beyond a second fence, just 

 a bit higher, and with a slightly larger tree 

 before it ; while on the downs are a few low 

 fences over which the pupils are inducted before 

 being despatched on the regular routine of their 

 respective classes, hurdle or steeplechase. These 

 jumps are made side by side, that is to say, 

 half the fence is hurdle, and the other half 

 joining on to it is the ordinary hedge and rail, 

 and in some cases ditch as well. 



" They learn to jump here, and not to knock 

 the hurdles down and run through them," 

 Cannon remarks. " You see, the hurdles are all 

 spliced together and won't give. They have to 

 be cleared ; " and by way of illustrating the fact 

 he canters gently up and pops lightly over one 

 of them, while I admire, as well I may, the 

 wonderfully fine hands which guide the horse 

 with such consummate ease. 



That Tom Cannon's seat in the saddle is 

 altogether unrivalled for grace, and what may 

 be called unity with his horse, is on all sides 



